Food Additive Composition as an Agent for Reducing the Adhesion of Dental Biofilms in Sweetened Products

Abstract

The present invention relates to a food additive composition to be added to sugar or sweetened products containing cariogenic free sugars or by-products thereof, enabling a reduction of the adhesion of dental biofilms and the appearance of caries while strengthening the tooth and the dental support tissue. The present invention also relates to food products made of cariogenic free sugars or by-products thereof containing said food additive product, as well as to a method of manufacturing such a food product containing said food additive composition, such as a chocolate.

1 . A food additive composition, comprising:
 a) an agent for reducing the adhesion of dental biofilm,   b) a mineralising agent based on silicon and/or based on calcium,   c) an antiseptic.   
     
     
         2 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 a) the agent for reducing the adhesion of dental biofilm is chosen from the group consisting of:   polyols such as xylitol, sorbitol, mannitol and erythritol, and hydrogenated disaccharides such as maltitol, lactitol and hydrogenated isomaltulose,   cranberry, coffee, chicory, inulin, tea, grapes, raisins, red wine,   b) the mineralising agent based on silicon is chosen from the group consisting of:   silica,   substances of plant origin extracted from plants including horsetail, lithothamnion, alfalfa, soya, nettle, bamboo or meadowsweet,   c) the antiseptic is a substance extracted from plants chosen from sage, echinacea, myrrh, propolis, ratanhia peruviana, calendula, yam, camomile, aloe vera, acerola, sanguinarine, lemon or grapefruit.   
     
     
         3 . The composition according to  claim 1 , further comprising an agent strengthening the dental support tissues chosen from vegetable oils of avocado, evening primrose, borage or soya, or from animal oils of fatty fish containing omega 3 or 6. 
     
     
         4 . The composition according to  claim 1 , further comprising xylitol as an agent for reducing the adhesion of dental biofilm, horsetail as a silica-based mineralising agent and sage as an antiseptic. 
     
     
         5 . The composition according to  claim 4 , further comprising avocado oil as an agent strengthening the dental support tissues. 
     
     
         6 . The composition according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a. about 79 to 99 parts by weight, preferably 90 to 96 parts by weight of xylitol as an agent for reducing the adhesion of dental biofilm;   b. about 0.5 to 19 parts by weight, preferably 2.5 to 10 parts by weight of silica and a silica source of plant origin such as horsetail as a remineralising agent;   c. about 0.2 to 2 parts by weight, preferably 0.4 to 1 part by weight of an antiseptic of plant origin such as sage.   
     
     
         7 . The composition according to  claim 6 , further comprising about 0.2 to 2 parts by weight, preferably 0.4 to 1 part by weight of an agent strengthening the dental support tissues. 
     
     
         8 . The composition according to  claim 1  for incorporating in a food product containing cariogenic free sugars or derivatives thereof, wherein the composition adds to said food product:
 a. from 0.1% to 0.8% by weight, preferably 0.3% to 0.6% by weight xylitol as an agent for reducing the adhesion of dental biofilm; 
 b. from 0.005% to 0.02% by weight, preferably 0.01% to 0.02% by weight silica or a source of silica of plant origin, such as horsetail, as a remineralising agent; 
 c. from 0.001% to 0.01% by weight, preferably 0.002% to 0.003% by weight of an antiseptic of plant origin such as sage. 
 
     
     
         9 . The composition according to  claim 8 , wherein the composition also adds to the food product containing cariogenic free sugars or derivatives thereof 0.001% to 0.01% by weight, preferably 0.02% to 0.003% by weight of avocado oil as an agent for strengthening the dental support tissues. 
     
     
         10 . A food product containing cariogenic free sugars or derivatives thereof, wherein the food product comprises elements a), b) and c) of the composition as defined in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . The food product according to  claim 10 , further comprising 0.001% to 0.01% by weight, preferably 0.002% to 0.003% by weight of an agent strengthening the dental support tissues, chosen from plant oils of avocado, evening primrose, borage or soya, or from animal oils of fatty fish containing omega 3 or 6. 
     
     
         12 . The food product according to  claim 10 , chosen from sugar, confectionery, such as cocoa products or based on chocolate, including chocolate, chocolate bars or chocolate-based spreads, chewing gums, decorative products for cakes or icing; milk products, such as milky drinks, fermented or curdled milk products, condensed milks, milky desserts; sorbets or ice creams; products based on fruits, such as jams, jellies, marmalades, fruit-based spreads, candied fruits, pulps, purees, coatings based on fruits or coconut milk, desserts based on fruits; cereals and products based on cereals; bakery products, such as pancakes and cakes; sweeteners, including honey; preparations for babies, infants or young children, or intended for medical or diatetic use; coatings for medication; drinks such as fruit or vegetable juices, nectars, drinks based on flavoured water, sodas, coffee or substitutes, teas or infusions; health foods; food supplements; condiments such as mustard or ketchup; soups and broths; ready-cooked or semi-cooked dishes; frozen foods or composite foods. 
     
     
         13 . A chocolate or chocolate product, comprising:
 a. from 0.1% to 0.8% by weight, preferably 0.3% to 0.6% by weight xylitol as an agent for reducing the adhesion of dental biofilm;   b. from 0.005% to 0.02% by weight, preferably 0.01% to 0.02% by weight silica or a source of silica of plant origin, such as horsetail, as a remineralising agent;   c. from 0.001% to 0.01% by weight, preferably 0.002% to 0.003% by weight of an antiseptic of plant origin such as sage.   
     
     
         14 . The chocolate or chocolate product according to  claim 13 , further comprising from 0.001% to 0.01% by weight, preferably 0.002% to 0.003% by weight of avocado oil as an agent for reinforcing the dental support tissues. 
     
     
         15 . A method of manufacturing chocolate according to  claim 13 , comprising the following succession of steps:
 a. mixing the powders of xylitol, horsetail and sage;   b. grinding the mixture obtained at step a), preferably until a granulometry of less than or equal to 20 μm is obtained;   c. performing operations of kneading, refining, conching and tempering using cocoa paste, sugar and optionally cocoa butter and powdered milk;   d. incorporating the powdery mixture obtained at step b) in the chocolate paste obtained at the end of step c);   e. additionally, incorporating avocado oil in the chocolate paste obtained at the end of step c); and   f. casting or moulding the chocolate product obtained at step d).